Daniel Emmet (Italian Studies minor, 2015) recently performed at America’s Got Talent 2018, presenting first his original song “Amante”, and then, upon request of jury member Simon Cowell, Il Divo’s “Passerà.” The faculty of Chapman Italian Studies is enormously proud of Daniel’s growing success, and humbled by his obvious love for, and skills in, the Italian language.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5xRprbAz7E&feature=share
The summer 2018 Chapman Italian Studies travel course Journey to Sicily: Immersion in Taormina has begun. This summer, students will spend three weeks improving their language skills by living with an Italian family and taking intensive courses in Italian language and culture. Their linguistic development will be integrated with an introduction to the natural and cultural history of the Ionian coast through various field trips to places like Catania, Acitrezza, the Alcantara Valley, and the Etna vulcano. This multifaceted and fascinating cultural experience, designed in collaboration with Babilonia’s Center for Italian Studies, will also include a critical laboratory, consisting of lectures and conversations with local experts and aimed at gaining a better understanding of the challenges and potentials of tourism in Italy, with Taormina as a case study.
Below is the group of ten students with Dr. Pacchioni during their first walk through Lady Trevelyan’s Villa Comunale in Taormina.
Melissa Marino (Italian Studies BA, class of 2017) will intern in the Promotional Cultural offices at two of the most prestigious theaters in Italy: Piccolo Teatro, the first public Italian theatre built in Italy in the year 1947, and Teatro alla Scala, one of the world’s top opera houses founded in 1778, both in Milan.
Le nostre più vive congratulazioni, Melissa!
“Paint & Speak” Italian Language Workshop for adults offered in June at Fondazione Italia’s language center on the beautiful Chapman University Campus in Orange.
You are invited to experience a “Paint & Speak” Italian art workshop led by expert Italian artist and language teacher Ylenia Mino! Ylenia will guide you through the creation of a painting while teaching you new vocabulary words and phrases with the goal of enriching your Italian language skills through the artistic medium of painting. This workshop is intended for all proficiency levels including absolute beginners. Release your creativity and learn Italian!
For more details click here.
Last week, Joe Baird, the Executive Chair of the Italian Studies Council, and his spouse Linda opened their home and kitchen to Dr. Paduano’s class ITAL 340 History and Culture of Food in Italy for an afternoon of regional cooking. Students organized into teams to prepare Sicilian caponata, Romagnol passatelli, Abruzzi’s pizzelle (offerred by Vicky Carabini), Neapolitan pizza, and Milanese risotto. In addition to gaining a concrete appreciation for Italian culinary regional differences, students learned just how good dishes made of simple ingredients can be, and how Italy’s “cucina povera” utilizes ingredients to create interconnected and tasty recipes while reducing food waste. For an afternoon, everyone was transported to Italy by the magic of cooking and eating good food together.
Grazie a Joe, Linda e Vicky da parte di tutti gli studenti.
Dr. Pacchioni is the recipient of a Faculty Excellence Award in Scholarship, Teaching and Service. The faculty committee that reviewed this year’s nominees recognized Dr. Pacchioni for having “established a truly impressive record as teacher-scholar with a strong spirit of service to Chapman and its students.” In particular, the committee unanimously expressed praise for Dr. Pacchioni’s “stellar record of publication as a scholar of Fellini and Italian cinema”, for his “passion for teaching” in both Italian language and culture courses and interdisciplinary courses, and for bringing “phenomenal growth” to the Italian Studies program through “leadership and hard work.”
The Department of World Languages and Cultures at Chapman University selected Briana Salatino as Outstanding Italian Major.
Briana Salatino’s performance at Chapman University has been outstanding: she is graduating with a double major in Public Relations and Advertising and in Italian Studies, as well as with a minor in Sociology. While at Chapman, Briana has collected a noticeable list of achievements such as: the Committee Member of the Year award from the University Program Board, the Italian Catholic Federation Yearly Scholarship for five years, and she was selected as Provost Scholar. Briana completed a semester abroad in Perugia, Italy, where she immersed herself in Italian culture, life, and society reaching native-like fluency. In addition to succeeding in her coursework on campus, she has been active with the Italian Club and has contributed to the program itself by organizing and performing memorable and educational activities during the conversation night, La Serata. Briana is an independent, mature, and dedicated student, who has inspired her professors and classmates alike.
Complimenti, Briana! E tanti auguri.
The Italian Studies faculty is enormously proud to have one of their students, Paige Gulley, as the recipient of this year’s Cheverton Award. The Cheverton Trophy, awarded annually to the outstanding graduating senior, is the highest undergraduate student honor at Chapman University. A gift of the class of 1929, the original bronze Cheverton Trophy cup remains on exhibit in Argyros Forum along with its successor, a silver bowl. Upon the trophies are engraved the names of all Cheverton awardees since 1929.
Paige Gulley is double majoring in French and History and double minoring in Italian Studies and in the University Honors Program. In addition to her absolutely outstanding coursework in Italian language and culture (that lead her to being invited to present her scholarship at an international competitive conference last fall), Paige successfully completed a period of study in Italy within the context of the program’s summer course, served as the vice-president of the Italian Club, and is about to begin an internship with the Bowers Museum on an exhibition on Italian armors.
Paige’s Cheverton Award coincides with her being selected as the Outstanding Graduating Minor in Italian Studies this year.
Congratulazioni vivissime e tantissimi auguri, Paige!
